Crochet: Face mask

I know I'm a little late to the bandwagon but I could only crochet whenever the mood sets in after working hours. I've gotten this pattern from Adel, link below, and I did improvise a bit to suit my yarn. Quite stiff using this yarn so will try another pattern to see if the result is the same.

Pattern from:
https://www.instagram.com/adel_hands/?hl=en

What I've used:

• Milk cotton yarn

Chap Goh Mei Special!

Finally, it has reached the last day of Chinese New Year celebration. Today is known as Chap Goh Mei or Chinese Valentine's Day. Below is a summary of what it means from Google:

Chap Goh Mei is a Hokkien term that means the 15th night of the new year, which is why it's celebrated on the 15th and final day of Chinese New Year. In Mandarin, it's called Yuan Xiao Jie (元宵节), which means Prime Night Festival.

You can also read more about it here:
https://publicholidays.com.my/chap-goh-mei/

In view that Valentine's Day is also around the corner, instead of having thrown Mandarin oranges into the sea to look for your soulmate, you can opt to gift a flower bookmark to a fellow booklover which is more environmental friendly and useful LOL!

For custom order, it'll take at least 3 days. Currently available at a very attractive introductory price. For more details or to purchase, please click on the link below:
https://nycnatnook.easy.co/

Crochet: Neck Pillow

I've recently crochet a neck pillow as le hubs has been looking for one but the mass market ones were either too soft or not suitable. So I've taken this task to make a suitable and firm one for his birthday present but alas it was one size smaller LOL!

I've used this pattern below as a guide and altered it to suit my needs i.e. smaller holes so that the styrofoam beads do not fall out.
https://www.mooeyandfriends.com/2015/12/crocheted-neck-pillow-12-days-of-diy/

What I've used:

• Milk cotton yarns
• Styrofoam beads

So moving on, will continue to make another bigger neck pillow...

Happy Birthday Everyone! (人日)

Just so you know, today is 'Yan Yat' (人日) which translates to 'Everyone's Birthday'. It falls on the seventh day of the lunar calendar thus everyone celebrates their day, or rather their birthday, today! It's an ancient belief where human beings were created on this auspicious day. Hence this is the reason why all Chinese restaurants are fully booked with lots of 'yee sang' sold on this particular day!

Also, I've just realized I have not shared this. As this year is the 'Year of the Rat', there is a special offer for my handmade crochet rat bookmark, while stock last! So grab it fast ya!

For more details or to purchase, please click on the link below:
https://nycnatnook.easy.co/products/handmade-crochet-mouse-bookmark

Amigurumi: Pokemon inspired Pokeball

My first crochet for this year 2020, I've made a Pokeball! Or two!!! I know, some of you might say, again??? LOL!!! Well, I had an order from a dear friend who supports local handmade market and she has commissioned me to make 2 Pokeballs with key ring! I'm so grateful for friends who truly appreciate handmade which is so rare!

This is an easy pattern which I've concocted. If you would like to learn to crochet this Pokeball, I do teach too. Just drop me an email or visit my Facebook page @NycNatNook for more deets.

Pattern: Susan Stitch Stuff

Thank you so much, Ai Jou, for your constant support!

MPOV: How to Embroider Almost Everything

I've received this e-ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

My rating: 5/5
Goodreads rating: 4.55/5
Publication: October 22, 2019
Author: Wendy Gratz
Genre: Crafts, non-fiction

How to Embroider Almost Everything is an inspiring, fun, and sophisticated collection of 500+ stitch motifs from embroidery designer Wendi Gratz that offers a fresh new take on embroidery.
Get a detailed checklist of everything you’ll need to embark on your stitch journey: threads, needles, fabric, and more.
Find step-by-step tutorials for essential stitches and other techniques for creating the motifs, plus answers to common questions and invaluable tips and tricks.
Explore an amazing 500+ modern motifs for almost everything, including people and pets, trees and flowers, everyday objects, food, home, and more. Either re-create the motifs exactly as shown using the accompanying templates and stitch guides, or give them your own creative spin by changing details and colors to suit your own style.

How to Embroider Almost Everything helps you take your first steps to embroidering to your heart’s content and creating beautiful drawings with needle and thread!

Each book in the Almost Everything series offers readers a fun, comprehensive, and charmingly illustrated visual directory of ideas to inspire skill building in their creative endeavors.

The above taken from Goodreads.

A precisely written tutorial which was easy to understand with pictures to emphasis and elaborate. I had always wonder the basics of embroidery and I was so grateful to be given a chance to peruse it! I have a much better understanding now and I can't wait to get my hands to embroider more as there were so many templates in this book! An awesome reference book for beginners like me!

Initially, I wanted to embroider one hands on with the e-book but alas... aside from being at work, I'm currently busy with decluttering at home so everything is in a mess right now. I'll definitely share one with a hands on embroidery when I'm free of all this mess! Can't wait to have everything settled down before the New Year!

Crochet: Boo! Happy Halloween!

This is my recent creation, just in time for Halloween! It was inspired by Jack Skellington, a character in the movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Are they scary enough? They seemed tame to me lah LOL!

I've crochet a Jack Skellington head with key ring and 2 bookmarks. What I've used:

• acrylic yarn
• styro-foam beads

If you are interested to learn crochet, you can give me a buzz or visit my Facebook page as listed on the right hand side of the blog. Crochet is a relaxing and therapeutic hobby once you get the hang of it :-)

CSM: Project Kita Pop-up Market

Nyc Nat Nook will be at Suasana Presint 2 Putrajaya for Kita Pop-up Market this weekend! Aside from our DIY mosaic kits, we will also feature some new crafts on that day ya! So drop by and check out our booth!

See you there!

Kong Heng Artisan Market

I've recently discovered Kong Heng Artisan Market, thanks to hubs for alerting me and bringing us there. I've not heard of it and I was humbly surprised by the facade and market! It sure did remind me of Penang and Malacca but Kong Heng still has it's own unique artistry.

Located in the busy bustle of Ipoh, we were early so we beat most traffic and able to get parking easily. The walk from the car park to the market, passing through some alleys which were not only clean but artistically decorated, similarly to both Penang and Malacca. The only difference was the cleanliness here. Even the nitty dark back lanes were so clean! Well, I'll just let the photos do the talking here...

So clean right???

Kong Heng Artisan Market is actually a maker cum art market for the artsy fans. Lots of handmade stuffs are found here and some are quite unique too! Even the decoration for this location is artistically done.

We had this ball of ice LOL!!! It's from Bits & Bobs if you are interested :-)

On our way back to the car park, we did stopped by Bookxcess and Concubine Lane. Lots of stuff to feast the eyes on but it was already getting hot and humid with cramped up spaces. Too crowded so had to leave then...

Here's my mini loot! The lovely pair of earrings were from my Angels!!!

I did enjoy my time at this market and my mind has been buzzing with ideas! Unfortunately with limited funds and resources, most ideas would have to take a back seat... can only work on the feasible ones for now. Slowly but surely, love of art would lead the way, one step at a time! *fingers crossed*

Crochet: Amigurumi Owls with key chains

Recently received an order to make 10 of this lovely owls! I was happy to do it but I was hit by muscle spasm and aches initially so my progress was slow at the start. When I've managed to pick up pace, I was so happy with the outcome! Thank you Miss Siah for your kind support!

Pattern is my own. What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• Styrofoam fillings
• Key chains
• Safety eyes

Sparks joy amigurumi owls!!!

Crochet: bag charms / key chains

I've recently crochet lots of bag charms and key chains for the upcoming The Santai Pop-up Market this weekend at Sunsuria Forum, Setia Alam.

All are my own creations hence I'm really happy at how it turns out! What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns
• Fibre foam filling
• Random buttons
• Lobster clasp / key fob

Aside from these, there are some amigurumi's for sale... not forgetting, lots of DIY Mosaic Kits too! So drop by if you are in the vicinity! Come one, come all!!!

CSM: GMBB: Good Market - Family

This coming weekend, there will be a Family themed Good Market at GMBB from 11am to 8pm. Nyc Nat Nook is grateful to have been invited to join this creative market! Aside from selling crochet gifts, we will also have a mini crochet workshop, Understanding Basic Crochet, for freshies! So if you have no plans for this weekend, please do come by and holler us your support! If you are interested in our mini workshop, please send me an email to book a slot as seats are limited.

More deets here:
https://nycnatnook.easy.co/blogs/blog/family-good-market

GMBB Mall:
No. 2, Jalan Robertson, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Crochet: Cobblestone Cowl

I've recently made these and I absolutely love it! It was so easy to make and can easily finished it within a day but I took longer as I do have a life ya (Work and Pokemon Go got in the way LOL!)! I also love using bulky yarns as it's so easy to yarn over! I've made 3 of these for my sis-in-laws and niece-in-law so I could probably make another one for my own collection :-)

Pattern from www.allaboutami.com.

What I've used:

• Lion Brand Yarns Wool-Ease Thick & Quick

Crochet: Flower bookmark or brooch

I've recently embarked on a bookmark craze! At first, it was some mouse bookmarks and now some flower ones!!! It actually was a suggestion from a loyal student, Carol, who wanted to learn to make one. And then Mother's Day came, so was sis' birthday, so I've made them one each!

Flower pattern was from https://www.petalstopicots.com/ and I've added my own take of the tassel. Easy peasy!

Flower themed

Flower bookmark with tassel for sis

Flower brooch for mom

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarns (mixed colour)

Nyc Nat Nook: Crochet Workshops!

Did you know that I do conduct crochet workshops at Nyc Nat Nook? Aside from books for rent and mobile phone accessories for sale, I do sell some handmade crochet products and teach crochet during weekends.

If you would like to learn a new skill i.e. crochet, you can give me a holler and I'll advice you accordingly. Either a beginner or a refresher, I have suitable workshops for both category namely:

• learn to crochet a book/ e-reader sleeve
• learn to crochet a coaster
• learn to crochet a pokeball

More will be added in due time but if you have a particular pattern in mind, we can work something out. Workshops are by appointment basis as such please do holler for more details.

Learning to crochet a book sleeve is currently our most popular workshop :-) 

Below are some of our student's completed book sleeves:

For more details, please check out our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/NycNatNook/

Crochet: A simple muffler

I was recently commissioned to crochet this muffler, though simple but a very tedious project! I could have finished it earlier too but restricted due to time and joint pain :-(

Anyway, the end result was truly satisfying for me and I really loved how it turned out!

Pattern was my own. Here's what I've used:

• 4 Seasons pure wool 8 ply (100% Australian Wool) yarn

Crochet: e-reader sleeve

Though I've been crocheting for so long, I've not made many book related items as I've enjoyed making dolls more! Oh well, since I wanted to have a book themed workshop, I've finally created this simple e-reader sleeve, definitely suitable for beginners.

What I've used:

• 100% acrylic yarn
• rubber band
• button

If you are interested to learn a new skill, you are welcome to check out my Facebook page for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/NycNatNook/